Based in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, the Media Awareness and Justice Initiative works with groups and social movements working together for social, economic, cultural and environmental justice by helping them use media and communication technologies to inform, organize, mobilize and further their struggles to create a better world.
Anti-graft Agency, EFCC Arrests Ex-Anambra Governor’s Wife, Ebele Obiano
Ebelechukwu, the wife of the immediate past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Ebele, according to Punch, has been under investigation over allegations for involvement in fraudulent activities.
The former First Lady's arrest comes few weeks after her husband was arrested by the anti-corruption agency a few hours after handing over to the current governor, Charles Soludo.
The EFCC spokesman had said that Obiano was on their watch list prior to his arrest.
The former governor was subsequently transferred to the headquarters of the commission, where he was quizzed for days over alleged mismanagement of N5 billion Sure-P money, N37 billion security vote, withdrawn in cash, as well as some inflated contracts.
Ebele had, weeks ago, declared her intention to join the contest for the forthcoming Anambra North Senatorial District election.
Her declaration trailed her brawl with Bianca Ojukwu, a former ambassador fought after a heated exchange during the inauguration of Soludo as Anambra governor.
During the heated conversation between the duo, Bianca slapped Obiano’s wife, an incident that caused a commotion at the event.
Categories: audio
2023: South-East Elders, Stakeholders To Meet In Intense Lobbying To Produce President
Ahead of the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria, a global non-partisan Igbo Think-Tank, Nzuko Umunna, is set to unveil a national conversation around the fruition of a Nigerian president coming from the South-East region.
The initiative conceived as Greater Nigerian Conference (GNC), is scheduled to hold on Monday April 25, 2022 by 11am at Executive Hall of the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
According to a statement from the GNC Media Officer, Collins Steve Ugwu, the conference is aimed at mobilising Nigerians of all levels such as, elders, opinion leaders, politicians, the youths and entrepreneurs, from north and south, east and west, for a rational dialogue on the moral standing of South-East’s quest for Nigerian president to come from the zone.
The statement read, “As the elections for Nigeria’s Presidency in 2023 takes centre stage amongst parties, stakeholders and citizens, NzukoUmunna, a global Igbo Think Tank is set to unveil a stirring national conversation to persuade Nigerians to see the fidelity of a Nigerian President from the South East region, as the fairest national consensus, Nigeria should make to them, especially now, for equity, justice and fairness to be seen as our unifying cornerstone.
“Conceived as the Greater Nigerian Conference, GNC, the significant event billed to hold at Executive Hall of the International Conference Centre, Abuja, on April 25, 2022 by 11am, is geared to gather Nigerians of all persuasions and substance, the elders, opinion molders, politicians, entrepreneurs, the youths, from the north and south, west and east, to a rational dialogue on the moral force of South East's quest for Nigerian president from their zone.
“The initiative for this consequential conference by the nonpartisan foundation for a greater Nigeria is to underscore the need for progressive good governance, equity in diversity and fairness by inclusion, in the conscience of our national politics.
“We are convinced that Nigeria is never better ripe for a highly marginalised South East, to earn their desire for Nigerian Presidency through such deliberate sacrifice, as a steadfast reinforcement of our common nationhood, the statement from the GNC Media Office emphasised.
"We are determined by the eminence of the leading lights of this conference, in the persons of former governor of Enugu State, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, and distinguished Senator Victor Umeh, both former Chairmen of prominent national parties in Nigeria, as Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the GNC Organizing Committee respectively, to ask Nigerians to give the Southeast region the opportunity to make history for one Nigeria.
“Highlighting the imperatives that make the event a necessity, the Executive Secretary of Nzuko Umunna, Mr Ngozi Odumuko, noted that, at no time better than now, is best to cast the net of presidential recruitment to the Southeast, given the inspiring stature of men withproven capacity, competence, fitness and knowledge, eager for fair consideration to serve this country as President, the way others regions have faithfully done unhindered.
“The Greater Nigeria Conference with the theme "Together We Can" will build on the strength and determination of all lovers of peace, justice and progress, to work better together, listen to each other more, and act selflessly in a pan Nigeria spirit to remove the yoke of South East exclusion to the highest office in their country.
“The occasion which will have all Presidential aspirants from Southeast, Governors from Southeast and Southern Nigeria in attendance, will be graced by special delegation from Ohaneze Ndigbo, South West Afenifere leaders, Middle Belt Forum, Arewa Consultative Forum, Pan Niger Delta Forum amongst others.
“Already, confirmations of attendance and participations from Nigerians in the diaspora, and within are great, in what will be a frank engagements to preach the message of solidarity to all, that Southeast region is worthy of their trust, and ready to serve this country, as their President since the unfortunate civil war more than fifty years ago.”
Categories: audio
Senate President Demands Police Probe Into Death Of ‘Ekwueme’ Gospel Singer, Osinachi
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has urged the police and all relevant law enforcement agencies to investigate the death of gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu who sang the popular ‘Ekwueme’.
Lawan made the call during plenary session on Thursday, a statement from Ezrel Tabiowo, his special assistant noted.
The Senate President said the life of every Nigerian citizen matters and must be accounted for by security agencies and relevant authorities where death occurs.
Coming under Order 42 of the Senate Standing Orders on Personal Explanation, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah (Anambra South), drew the attention of the chamber to the mysterious death of the singer.
Reacting to the widely reported news of her demise, the Senate President called for an investigation to unravel the actual cause of her death.
He said, “The authorities should investigate the death of this citizen, and the lives of every citizen must matter. This is one death too many.”
SaharaReporters had reported that Osinachi’s death was announced on Friday night.
Some reports had said the singer died in the hospital after suffering from domestic violence from her husband.
Osinachi’s sister, who is the first daughter of the family and was identified as Ms Favor Made, confirmed the reports on Sunday, saying that Osinachi died as a result of a cluster of blood in the chest.
She said the late suffered from a blood clot after the kicking she received from her husband, Peter Nwachukwu.
Categories: audio
Electoral Body, INEC Suspends Voter Registration In Imo Community After Gunmen’s Attacks
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the Continuous Voter Registration Exercise (CVR) exercise in the Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State.
This trailed an attack by gunmen on INEC officials who were carrying out registration in the area.
The gunmen, numbering about 12, stormed the area on Thursday and attacked some ad hoc staff members of the electoral commission who were registering members of the community for the 2023 general elections.
Reacting in a statement, the National Commissioner, Festus Okoye, explained that a staff of the commission, Nwokorie Anthony, was shot dead at Nkwo Ihitte (PU 004) in Amakohia Ward (RA02) of Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area.
Two other staff involved in the registration exercise at the polling unit are also missing.
INEC said it was making efforts to locate their whereabouts.
Okoye said, “Prior to this incident, the Commission had suspended the CVR in Orsu and Njaba Local Government areas of the State on account of insecurity while the exercise is taking place only at the INEC LGA office in Oru East, Oru West, Orlu and Ohaji – Egbema Local Government Areas of the State.
“The Commission extends its condolences to the family of Nwokorie Anthony and prays that God will grant them the fortitude to bear the loss. The incident has been reported to security agencies to unravel the circumstances that led to this unfortunate incident and bring the culprits to justice.
“We enjoin the President General of the various Town Unions in Imo State as well as all the critical stakeholders to protect the staff of the Commission engaged in national assignment.
“The safety and security of staff is of paramount importance to the Commission, particularly with the devolution of the voter registration exercise beyond our State and Local Government Area offices nation in our determination to serve Nigerians better.”
Categories: audio
Parents Of Government College Pupils Warn Governor Makinde Against Handing Over School To Old Boys’ Association
The Parents Teachers Association of the Government College Ibadan has petitioned the Oyo State Government over the transfer of the school to the Wale Babalakin-led Old Boys Association.
The parents demanded an immediate reversal of the policy.
The parents described the move as a betrayal of trust between the government and the masses of the state.
The letter was signed by Prince Adeniji Adeniyi, the P.T.A. Chairman for the Senior School; Owosibo Olusegun, PTA Chairman for Junior School 1 and Adebamiji Olatunde, P.T.A. Chairman for Junior School 2.
According to them, the school will now serve only a selected few as it alleged that those behind the College takeover are after the school's resources for their own selfish interest.
The association noted, “The handing over of Government College, Ibadan to the Government College, Ibadan Old Boys’ Association (GCIOBA) has come to the attention of GCI Parents Forum as widely reported in different dailies with particular reference to the headline in The Guardian Newspaper of Wednesday, March 23rd 2022, capturing ‘Oyo Set to Hand over Government College to Old Boys Association’.
“This has raised a lot of concerns and questions in the interest of the public, the GCI community, Apata Community, Ibadan People and the good people of Oyo State, with the request to consider the concerns of the parents and other stake holders on the matter.
“It is instructive to note and state here that: We (Parents) find this action as nothing but a betrayal of trust between the Government and the masses of the State, especially in the education sector as clearly stated in the inaugural address by Your Excellency during the Swearing-in-Ceremony at Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan on May 29, 2019.
“The College that ought to serve the community is now to serve the selected few and the Government is indirectly ceding the heritage of the State to the selected few.
“The people behind the College take over are after the resources in the school, most especially, the land mass and the staff quarters scattered within the College environment for their own selfish interests.
“The Government College Ibadan Old Boys’ Association (GCIOBA) under the Trustee Incorporated that is taking over the College has members in School Governing Board (SGB).
“One of them is even the Chairman of the Board. If not for the ulterior motives, why can’t the GCIOBA support the College through this avenue instead of complete takeover?
“During the last School Governing Board meeting held in the GCI conference room on Monday April 4th 2022, the Chairman of the board, Engr. Femi Babalola who coincidentally is an Old Boy, reported that he was directed by the President GCIOBA, Dr. Wale Babalakin, to brief the board on the handing over matter.
“The PTA chairmen present at the meeting requested for the MOU signed with the Government for us to see the details inside the document. To our surprise, the request was declined by the Chairman but we were rather referred to the Government of Oyo State for the details of the MOU.
“With this reaction, the PTA as a body saw this as a ploy to hide certain things from the public which calls for greater concern.
“It is on record that Government College Ibadan Old Boys’ Association (GCIOBA) has a big hall that generates money for them periodically. The hall has generated almost N2,000,000 between the month of January and March this year.
“Sadly enough, the school authorities are made to pay for the services of this hall for programmes like Valedictory service and the likes. Over the years, money generated from this enterprise is kept solely with the association and nothing goes to the government as a form of tax or revenue.
“It is believed that the same mindset is going to be replicated in the running of the College, thereby, the public will be shortchanged. Also, the College is to be run as an elitist school as the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) claims that Government College, Ibadan will be for the GIFTED thereby creating inequality and discrimination in our educational system.
“The original intent and purpose of making the College a Ministry of Education controlled school have been defeated. Government College, Ibadan serves as a learning ground and a training school for the Education Officers who will in turn become Inspectors of Education and Policy Makers in the nearest future.
“There is no law in Oyo state that empowers the Governor to give a public school out to the old students and as a matter of fact it is unlawful for the Governor to unilaterally cede the school that was established by extant education laws in Oyo state to an organization unknown to law in Oyo state.
“The handover of the College to some for-profit executives/associations is a comedy of errors. But why don’t they (the profit making organisation) organise one from scratch? Besides, the structure of Governing Board proposed in the Agreement is not different from the structure of Governing Board in operation in all the Public Secondary Schools across Oyo State.
“Having considered the above factors, this is our humble prayer. PRAYER: 1. We want Government College Ibadan to stay public 2. We want the relevant agencies to beam their searchlight on the activities of the Old boys at Government College Ibadan. i. The Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue to look into the affairs of the Profit making Hall erected on Government landed property without any returns to the State Government, in terms of taxes or revenue. ii. The Auditor General to look into the acclaimed Balanced Sheet of the association on how they generate funds and how the billions of naira spent over the years are sourced.
“3. The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, the Office of the Surveyor General and the Office of the Auditor General to document and evaluate all the assets of Government College Ibadan and differentiate it from the assets of the Association. 4. The Government should ensure that no asset of Government College Ibadan is used to obtain loan or used as collateral in whatever circumstances.
“5. Government to call for stakeholder’s meeting to address the educational situation in the State in order to find a lasting solution to the inadequate funding and save the State from opportunists.”
Categories: audio
Cholera Outbreak Claims 55 Persons In Adamawa State
No fewer than 55 persons have died in the Cholera pandemic in Adamawa State.
The state government said 55 deaths were recorded during the recent Cholera outbreak in the state following a declaration of outbreak of Cholera in July 2021.
Isa Abdullahi, Commissioner of Health, who addressed journalists in Yola, the state capital, said since the beginning of the Cholera outbreak in the state, a total of 1,959 suspected cases with 55 deaths were recorded.
Abdullahi said, “Since we have not recorded any case despite heightened surveillance for Cholera for several weeks, we (government and partners) are happy to declare the Cholera outbreak over.
"Since the beginning of the outbreak, a total of 1,959 suspected cases with 55 deaths translating to case fatality ratio 2.8% were recorded.”
However, critical stakeholders have questioned the haste in making claims of declaring the state as cholera free, arguing that the commencement of rainy seasons have been characterised with cholera outbreaks.
Dr. Amos Ujulu of the Adamawa State Health Insurance Scheme said, "Cholera outbreak usually occurs at the end of the rainy season, because of water scarcity. However it is also common to experience cholera outbreaks at the beginning of rainy season, just like now.”
Categories: audio
Over 11,500 Schools Closed In Nigeria Since 2020 Over Insecurity – UNICEF
No fewer than 11,536 schools have remained closed since December 2020 as a result of abductions and security related issues.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) made known on Thursday in a statement signed by its Communication Specialist, Samuel Kaalu, noting that the closure had impacted the education of approximately 1.3 million children in the 2020/21 academic year.
According to Samuel, the interruption of learning contributed to gaps in children’s knowledge and skills, which it feared may lead to the loss of approximately $3.4 billion in the children’s lifetime earnings, stressing that it perpetuates cycles of poverty and inequality.
UNICEF is collaborating with the government of Nigeria to protect children’s right to education in a safe and inclusive learning environment, he said.
According to him, the programme involved; building the capacity of School-based management committees (SBMCs) on school safety and security and strengthening community resilience.
It also called on the authorities in Nigeria to make schools safe and provide a secure learning environment for every child, especially for girls, to increase their enrolment, retention, and completion of education.
The first known attack on a learning institution in Nigeria took place on 14 April 2014, when 276 students at Government Girls Secondary School Chibok, Borno State, were abducted by Boko Haram members, Samuel explained.
He said since then, there had been a spate of attacks on schools and abductions of students, sometimes resulting in deaths.
He lamented that the incidents had become recurrent in the last two years, especially in the north-west and north-central regions of the country.
“Since December 2020, 1,436 school children and 17 teachers have been abducted from schools, and 16 school children lost their lives,” he said.
Categories: audio
Estranged Lover Of Nollywood Actress, Funke Akindele’s Husband Exposes Their Family Photo
Mella, the estranged lover of Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele’s husband, Abdulrasheed Bello, also known as JJC Skillz, has threatened to expose the actress’ family if hers is exposed.
In a post on her Instagram page on Thursday afternoon, Mella shared a photo of the actress, her husband, and their twins.
This is despite the actress' recent statement that she purposely concealed the identity of her twins.
She captioned the photo, “If you don’t want me to expose your family, then don’t expose mine. Funke and Abdul Bello.”
Rumours on social media had it that Funke Akindele’s marriage was reportedly facing serious troubles.
Benito, one of JJC’s children took to the comment section to speak about the actress.
He claimed that he lived with them for two years and that the experience was terrible.
He said, “I lived with her for two years, the house was a horror site. She is not what y’all think she is.”
However, in a post shared on his Instagram, JJC, who is presently in London, insinuated that their marriage was steady.
He wrote, “The only rock that stays steady and the only institution I know that works is marriage. London is cool but I’m missing home @funkejenifaakindele my love have loads of fun with the children. See you soon at home.
“Don’t let anyone spoil your vibes, Bellos forever #devilisaliar.”
Categories: audio
Buhari To Meet Military Chiefs Next Week Over Worsening Insecurity
Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, will on April 19, hold a meeting with military chiefs and heads of security agencies.
Abubakar Badaru, governor of Jigawa, disclosed this on Thursday while speaking with state house correspondents after the meeting of the Council of State.
The meeting, which will be the second of its kind within a space of three weeks, comes amid attacks across the country — including the recent killing of over 100 people in Plateau and Benue states.
Speaking on the scheduled meeting with the service chiefs, the Jigawa governor said the president will discuss with the agency heads on the recommendations and comments by the Council of State on the worsening insecurity in the country.
In recent weeks, the country has witnessed a spike in security challenges.
Ranging from the destruction of public facilities to attempted jailbreaks, kidnapping, train attacks, and killings, the country has been beset by various challenges.
Categories: audio
Young Lady, Toyosi, Arrested By Police In Lagos After Faking Kidnap, Rape To 'Chase Clout'
A young lady named Toyosi has been arrested by the police in Lagos after faking being kidnap and raped just to become popular online.
The lady with the Twitter handle @_misteriouss, had earlier on Thursday morning raised the alarm that she was being kidnapped and raped at number 78 Obayan Street, Pako, Akoka, Lagos, and needed help desperately.
She dropped a mobile phone number alleged to be that of her attacker shortly afterwards for people to call and trace him in case worse things happen to her.
But after social media users alerted police to the situation and also bombarded the number with calls in a bid to rescue Toyosi, she tweeted that she was fine and that people should stop threatening or calling the number.
However, despite the young lady’s tweet, Nigerians, worried that she could have made the post under duress, kept on calling the line and police to make sure she was not hurt further.
In a matter of minutes, about three police vans arrived at the address Toyosi had dropped in her distress tweet earlier in order to rescue her.
But in a remarkable turn of events, the young lady posted another tweet, saying, “I posted earlier that I was kidnapped and raped. It’s false. I’m so sorry for this. Please stop calling and threatening the numbers.”
Enraged by her admittance of misleading members of the public, social media users called on the police to arrest and prosecute the young lady to serve as deterrent to others, who may want to try such in future.
A Twitter user with the handle @GoziconC, while reacting to the incident said, “The police must do their job. First they will make sure you are really fine and this video was not done under duress.
“Secondly, if you actually made this video for clout, you will explain that in cell.”
Another tweep, @Oluwatayofem, in his reaction said, “There is no length some sorosokes won’t go for chasing clout but either ways, someone must face the consequences of such actions.”
In his own reaction, another user of the micro-blogging platform, Abdulazeez Asekome, said, “If she was forced to make the video, she should come out and tell the police, they’ll do something about it.
“The more she hides herself, the more people continue to think this is really true.”
Heeding the calls of angry Nigerians, Toyosi was later arrested and taken to Bariga Police Station ahead of her arraignment in a special offences court for disturbing public peace.
As at mid-day on Thursday, the issue was the number one on Nigerian Twitter trends.
Categories: audio
Police In Delta Launch Manhunt For Suspect Who Murdered Young Lady In Hotel
The police in Delta State are currently searching for a young man named Jude suspected to have killed a lady named Adegor Rukevwe Sophia in a hotel in the Ozoro area of the state last weekend.
The victim, who is said to be popular among the students community in the area, had accompanied the suspect to the hotel on April 8, 2022 to spend the night.
But by the next morning at about 10:00am, the body of the lady was found in the room with her hands and legs tied with a rope.
The young man, who lodged with her overnight was, however, nowhere to be found.
Confirming the incident to SaharaReporters on Thursday, spokesperson for the police in Delta, Bright Edafe, said that a massive manhunt for the fleeing suspect had begun and that he would be apprehended to face the law.
Speaking further, Edafe debunked initial reports that the victim's head was cut off by the suspect when her body was discovered in the hotel room.
According to him, no part of her body was missing when she was found, adding that the corpse had been deposited at a mortuary pending an autopsy.
"Nobody knows how the suspect escaped from the hotel after commiting the crime.
"An investigation into the incident has commenced and a manhunt for the young man as well. He will be brought to justice," he said.
Friends and loved ones of the victim have been mourning her demise on social media, describing her as a charming and amiable lady.
Categories: audio
Gunmen Invade Imo Community During Voter's Registration, Shoot INEC Official Dead
A yet-to-be-identified number of persons have reportedly died after gunmen invaded the Nkwo Ihitte market in Imo State during the voters’ registration exercise organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The gunmen, numbering about 12, stormed the area on Thursday and attacked some ad hoc staff members of the electoral commission who were registering members of the community for the 2023 general elections.
According to the report, one of the INEC officers in charge of the registration process was shot by the unknown gunmen.
An eyewitness said, “We had all gathered in the village square in obedience to the directive that we should come out en masse to register.
“Not long after we queued, the gunmen came in, shot sporadically, and hoarded many into a room with a threat to kill them while others scampered for safety.”
As of the time of filing this report, the total number of deaths had yet to be ascertained.
Categories: audio
2023: Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege Declares To Run For Delta Governorship
The Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, has declared his intention to contest for the governorship seat of Delta State come 2023 general elections.
Omo-Agege, the senator representing Delta Central senatorial district in the National Assembly, made his intention known to a mammoth crowd of All Progressives Congress, (APC) leaders, members, supporters on Thursday at the arena of the Federal University Of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Effurun.
He accused Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of marginalising the people of Ndokwa, Isoko and Ijaw nations.
Addressing the mammoth crowd of APC leaders, members, supporters and stakeholders, Omo-Agege reeled out his stewardship saying that he had decided to step out of his comfort zone to contest for the 2023 governorship election so as to extend his good works to the state.
The Deputy Senate President, who accused the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration of spending over N2billion on a monthly basis on aides who did nothing, described Okowa's government “as a big waste and fraud, boasting that the APC as a party is fully prepared to take over the state from the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).”
Categories: audio
Women Die in Troubled Marriages Because We Slay Singles By Azu Ishiekwene
Azu Ishiekwene
A good number of those I have spoken with since the news of her tragic death broke on Friday night, said Nigerian gospel artiste, Osinachi Nwachukwu, 42, should not have died. She was such a tremendous gift to millions of people and inspired even millions more through her songs, yet she had not even reached the peak of her potential.
During the COVID-19 lockdown when many struggled with anxiety, boredom and depression, a famous song in which she featured prominently, “Nara Ekele”, was repurposed by Tim Godfrey and Travis Greene and rendered in over 10 local and international languages, from English to Spanish and Mandarin, lifting millions from the edge.
That was not her only major effort; she also produced the hit solo, “Ekwueme”. In a world so used to greed, graft and getting, a song like “Nara Ekele” that celebrates gratitude, resonates in a special way.
“What a waste”, many have said. “How could such an extraordinary talent die in a needless, tragic way?”
That reaction to her death was after it emerged that Osinachi may not have died from throat cancer as was previously thought. She may have died, it is alleged, from circumstances linked to domestic violence. That information, still under investigation, but strongly suggested by friends and close members of her family, sparked outrage and raised the question: why?
Azu Ishiekwene
Lawyer Deborah Enenche, a member of her church, Dunamis International Gospel Centre, and daughter of the pastor, said on her Facebook page: “The deceased was very isolated from her loved ones. Much of what happened could have been avoided if she hadn’t been marooned from the ones who cared for her most. I believe she not only passed due to the compendium of physical hurt and pain, she died of a broken heart.”
Did Deborah seriously think Osinachi enjoyed being marooned, dying alone day-by-day under the terror of a broken marriage? Or that Stockholm syndrome improved her creativity? That post obviously did not comment on suggestions that, at some point in Osinachi’s troubled marriage, she had confided to her pastor, Deborah’s father, that she had had enough, but was advised to endure.
The pastor has denied saying he only intervened to secure medical help when Osinachi complained of chest and respiratory problems, but her mother insists that unnamed pastors advised her daughter to return and rock her miserable marriage.
In hindsight, it’s easy to say Osinachi should have left. It is easy to blame her for indulging an abusive relationship and slam her for allegedly letting her husband run her life - and her career - as if she lived for him.
Why didn’t she see the writing on the wall much earlier? Why didn’t she speak up or ask for help? What good can come out of a relationship with a controlling spouse, more selfish than a raven, who is not only interested in hijacking your earnings, but also in telling you just how much of it you can spend and on what?
Surely, troubled marriages leave enough telltale signs, enough straw to clutch at just before things fall apart. Why didn’t Osinachi see the signs, seize the straw and escape? That appears to be what most people are now saying: she should have known better than to endure an abusive relationship to the point that it may have potentially led to her death. It was her fault.
The blame is coming thick and fast as truckloads of garbage pile up at the doorstep of the dead mother of four children. But there’s really no need to think long and hard, or to play the Ostrich while the truth stares us in the face. How we treat single women, especially those forced to leave troubled marriages, is the reason many spouses, women in particular, will stay in troubled marriages until it kills them.
Single women generally, but particularly those who are divorced or separated, are often treated as plagues. They are ostracised and made the butt of vicious jokes. Sometimes, the attacks are subtle, such as when mothers point at divorcées in the neighbourhood as possibly the worst examples their female children could emulate. At other times, it is scathing and public, such as when the former First Lady of Anambra State, Ebele Obiano, called widow, Bianca Ojukwu, “a bitch”, and “Asewo!” (prostitute), an occupation which often requires talent and experience to spot.
Single women are stereotyped as loose, sex-hungry animals roaming the neighbourhood for men (read other people’s husbands) to devour and other people’s happy marriages to wreck. They are to be tolerated and humoured but essentially avoided at all costs. To put it straight, it’s not a secret that eternal shame is the price a woman must pay for leaving her marriage.
When quarrelling couples are told by parents who have had many years of successful marriage that it is the duty of husband and wife to make the marriage work, the wife is later summoned separately. She is then told, in no uncertain terms, by the same people who had just finished advising the couple, that it is in fact, the woman’s job to make the marriage work!
“What will people say?”, is the world’s largest prison of the unhappily married; the reason the parties won’t walk away even when they know it’s all well and truly over.
Osinachi, obviously a woman from that generation, tried to make her marriage work, and may have died trying. We kill single women with our mouths and then turn around to ask millions like Osinachi, traumatised in troubled marriages, why they didn’t jump off quick enough.
Osinachi patiently built her career and was happy to let her husband be her manager, her director, her accountant and her banker, just so people won’t talk. All she ever wanted, it seemed, was to have an inspiring career and a happy home. And she seems to have given everything to make it work; because as they say around here, if the marriage works, it is the woman that works it.
Men like to think that they’re victims as well, and maybe they are to a far lesser degree. But until parents begin to raise their boy children differently and faith groups and cultural icons also make it clear that women don’t have to die to save a failing marriage, nothing is going to change.
The Global Gender Gap report 2020 said that 31 percent of women had suffered from intimate partner physical and/or sexual assault; with Middle East/North Africa, South Asia, North America, and sub-Saharan Africa topping the abuse league in that order. In the US, a woman is being battered every nine seconds.
According to a UN report published last year, exposure to violence spiked significantly during the pandemic with countries like Kenya reporting up to 80 percent, Jordan 49 percent, and Nigeria 48 percent.
In case this sounds like mere statistics, what it means in Nigeria, for example, is that 48 million people, or a country with the population of Uganda, are in danger of physical violence and Osinachi was potentially the latest victim. A report by THISDAY newspapers in 2011, said out of 50 per cent of women being battered by their husbands, the majority were educated women. There could be more unreported cases.
I’m, of course, not suggesting that couples should break up at the least provocation or that troubled marriages are not worth saving. Among other things, financial pressures, poor modelling and poor impulse control, are probably some of the biggest challenges for many of today’s marriages.
These challenges require understanding and patience that have become scarce commodities in the modern world of instant gratification.
True, these problems, especially the financial one, are often easier to manage when the burden is shared. But it is not in every situation that two is better than one. Sometimes, it is better for one to walk alone to save two or more from greater misery. The dead or severely emotionally damaged are not only useless to the children (often cited as the reason to endure at all costs), they are also useless to themselves.
Gender-based groups have done considerable work in highlighting the dangers of domestic violence, creating support groups and encouraging victims to speak up. What Osinachi’s death reminds us of, however, is that we still have a very long way to go before we stop killing women in troubled marriages by insisting that it is better to die married than to live single.
Ishiekwene is the Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP
Categories: audio
‘Clout Chasing’: Nigerian Tweeps Call For Arrest Of Young Lady, Toyosi, For Raising False Kidnap, Rape Alarm
A young lady identified as Toyosi has been accused by Nigerian social media users of faking being kidnapped and raped just to become popular online.
The lady with the Twitter handle @_misteriouss, earlier on Thursday morning raised the alarm that she was being kidnapped and raped at number 78 Obayan Street, Pako, Akoka, Lagos, and needed help desperately.
She dropped a mobile phone number alleged to be that of her attacker shortly afterwards for people to call and trace him in case worse things happened to her.
But after social media users alerted the police to the situation and also bombarded the number with calls in a bid to rescue Toyosi, she tweeted and did a video, saying she was fine and that people should stop threatening or calling the number.
However, despite the young lady’s tweet, Nigerians, worried that she could have made the post under duress, kept on calling the line and the police to make sure she was okay.
In a matter of minutes, about three police vans arrived at the address Toyosi had dropped in her distress tweet earlier in order to rescue her.
But in a remarkable turn of events, the young lady posted another tweet, saying, “I posted earlier that I was kidnapped and raped. It’s false. I’m so sorry for this. Please stop calling and threatening the numbers.”
Enraged by her admittance of misleading members of the public, social media users have since been calling on the police to arrest and prosecute the young lady to serve as a deterrent to others, who may want to try such in future.
A Twitter user with the handle @GoziconC, while reacting to the incident said, “The police must do their job. First, they will make sure you are really fine and this video was not done under duress.
“Secondly, if you actually made this video for clout, you will explain that in cell.”
Another tweep, @Oluwatayofem, in his reaction said, “There is no length some sorosokes won’t go for chasing clout but either way, someone must face the consequences of such actions.”
In his own reaction, another user of the micro-blogging platform, Abdulazeez Asekome, said, “If she was forced to make the video, she should come out and tell the police, they’ll do something about it.
“The more she hides herself, the more people continue to think this is really true.”
As of mid-day on Thursday, the issue was the number one topic on Nigerian Twitter trends.
https://twitter.com/_misteriouss/status/1514501884060610560?s=09
Here are some comments:
https://twitter.com/novieverest/status/1514531958583439367
https://twitter.com/Omojuwa/status/1514538196591419395
https://twitter.com/AmadiPreciousO4/status/1514541399064170502?s=20&t=9gm-JbEeTy219wtQJFck5Q
https://twitter.com/sainted_angel1/status/1514552175703244805?s=20&t=1THPMsoAv3LIE_QhPnfzoA
https://twitter.com/Oboksjnr/status/1514552864391278594?s=20&t=1THPMsoAv3LIE_QhPnfzoA
Categories: audio
What Nigerian Government Is Paying Lecturers Is Insulting By Olabisi Deji-Folutile
Olabisi Deji-Folutile
At least, 1.2 million students in Nigeria’s 49 federal government-owned universities have been at home for two months now, no thanks to the ongoing strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). As usual, the country has carried on as if nothing is amiss. Apart from ASUU that keeps begging well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the authorities to honour its agreement with the union, there has been dead silence from civil society organisations, parents and even the affected students themselves. Rather, the noise around town now centres around 2023 and who gets what based on political calculations. We have chosen to be excited by our politicians’ gimmicks again. The political class has never helped us, unfortunately, we have refused to learn from history.
To add salt to our injury, none of these political gladiators is even talking about Nigerian students. None is talking about the country’s decayed education sector or the plight of those currently at home without hope. That shows the level of priority accorded to the sector by people jostling for power in our dear country.
We can’t blame them. Many of these politicians don’t have any child in these public institutions and those who do are probably planning on how to relocate them abroad. You can only empathise with people when you feel their pains. Nigeria’s political elite live in another world. Their children are in some of the best institutions outside the country’s shores, so they don’t care and probably don’t even know what is happening to students in Nigerian universities. They may not even know if there is anything called ASUU strike in Nigeria.
When the “Bill for an Act to Regulate International Studies for Wards and Children of Nigerian Public Officers, to Strengthen Indigenous Institutions, Provide Efficient Educational Services for National Development; and for Related Matters” was introduced in the House of Representatives on March 3, 2022, it failed to pass the first reading. It is not surprising that the Reps rejected the bill. The political class knows that the soup they are cooking for Nigerians is bitter, so they don’t want to partake of it!
ASUU has told us that there will be no resumption in public universities until the re-negotiated 2009 agreement is implemented and the University Transparency and Accountability Solution deployed. The union said government owes its members 12 years of earned academic allowances and that they have been 13 years on old salary when political appointees and elected people in government enjoy periodic review of allowances and salaries.
Well, talking about lecturers’ salaries, I guess many Nigerians may not really know how bad the situation is in our universities. Personally, I don’t know how and why ASUU has lived with the miserly salaries of its members in the face of spiral inflation over the years. The union keeps talking about decayed infrastructure, lack of equipment and facilities in our universities but rarely talk about their depressing salaries and emoluments. Probably this is the case because members are too ashamed to let the cat out of the bag in their bid to continue to command the respect of the populace. I am not sure many people are aware that a professor on the last bar of professorship salary scale in Nigerian universities earns less than N500,000. Mind you, we are talking about professors with over 20 years’ experience here.
When a very senior and prominent professor in this country disclosed what he was earning about 15 years ago, I couldn’t believe my ears. I can’t mention his name here because I do not have his permission to do so, but trust me, the lecturer in question is a professor emeritus well respected home and abroad, and has won so many international awards and received accolades for his input towards higher education delivery globally. He has not only occupied prominent national position, but also well known for his contributions to the United Nations higher education system. But as impressive as the CV is, even back then, I knew journalists in Nigerian newspaper houses who earned far more than him. Fast forward to 2021, nothing has changed. I had a privilege of seeing the pay slip of another internationally acclaimed professor, one of Nigeria’s best in the field of Communication today, and the salary is to say the least depressing.
I came across a posting on a friend’s Facebook wall recently where he was talking about one of his friends who is a PhD holders g in the University of Lagos, who despite his many years of experience, is on a salary of N142,000 per month. According to him, his friend lives in Ikorodu and goes to UNILAG to lecture. He spends most nights in the office to save himself the suffering of commuting every day. He has to do that because his salary can’t get him a decent accommodation in town.
He cited another example of a friend who earned lesser than what the UNILAG teacher was earning though also a PhD holder. Unfortunately, this lecturer does not have an office space, so he uses his car as his office. From the reactions to that post, it is obvious that many people don't really know what is going on in our universities. These are common things. I have friends that are associate profs who sleep in their office for three days in a week. I know PhD holders who practically sleep on campus and go home during weekends. They have to do that to conserve their meagre resources and save themselves from the trouble of commuting from their houses-usually in remote neighbourhoods where house rents are cheaper – to campus on daily basis.
Do you know that the last time that the salaries of lecturers were reviewed in Nigeria was 12 years ago, precisely in 2010? So, when ASUU is adamant about a certain 2009 agreement, there is a lot to it. That is the agreement that stipulates the welfare package for lecturers, their entitlements and how their salaries should be reviewed from time to time among others. The agreement is very comprehensive. It is high time ASUU distilled this into bullet points for easier understanding of the populace.
Honestly, I don’t know how ASUU members have been surviving. The salary is just too poor. They talk about the Federal Government owing them earned allowances in billions of Naira and you think the money is for all of them. Meanwhile, the money is strictly for lecturers who teach postgraduate students, supervise postgraduate projects, or have excess workload, among others. Going through the so-called 2009 agreement, you realise that the allowances recommended are nothing to write home about considering the current economic realities.
Now let’s see the breakdown of salaries of lecturers in our universities. According to an article on the structure of lecturers’ salaries published by University World News Nigerian lecturers salaries range from about N99,768 to N342,442.
A graduate assistant, usually with a first degree and, ideally, a first-class pass, earns about N99,768 (about US$240) per month.
It takes three years to get to the position of an assistant lecturer with a monthly salary of N114,464 (US$275). A lecturer II must have a master’s with two years’ teaching experience, though a PhD holder, without teaching experience, qualifies and earns N130,002 (US$313) monthly.
A lecturer I, a rank below senior lecturer, requires a PhD with a minimum of five years’ teaching and research experience. The salary is N163,709 monthly (US$394).
A senior lecturer must have a PhD, at least eight years’ teaching experience as well as publications in both local and international journals and the salary is N231,393 per month (US$557).
A reader or associate professor, which is a rank below professor, must have at least 12 years’ teaching and research experience, publications and earns N281,867 per month (US$678). A professor earns N342,442 (US$824) monthly and it takes an average of 15 years of teaching and research to become one.
Olabisi Deji-Folutile
Recently, Professor Chima Onouha of the University of Port Harcourt, said professors at the last bar of their pay structure go home with a paltry N416,000 take home every month. Meanwhile, they have to spend part of this money to attend conferences, and publish their articles and books.
Do we need any soothsayer to tell us that this country cannot develop with this kind of arrangement? Isn’t it obvious that anyone waiting for Nigerian researchers to solve the problem of our technological backwardness will wait in vain? How can anyone do anything reasonable in this kind of situation?
I think we should be thanking every good lecturer in Nigeria’s university system today. We may also need to correct this erroneous impression that the lecturers back home are the less endowed or those that are not smart and that the good ones always find their way out of the country. Recently, I met a lecturer, who had a first class and won a scholarship for his doctoral programme in the UK. He teaches at the Lagos State University. He isn’t here for lack of opportunities to teach abroad, but he chose to remain here. He wants to make impact here. That is the proper way to think. But we have turned everything upside down in Nigeria.
Today, Nigerians are going through a second level of slavery abroad. While our forefathers were forced into slavery by their white slave masters, many of us are now willingly buying our way into slavery. People invest millions of Naira just to leave the country with their degrees to become janitors, dish washers in foreign lands - this is a story for another day. Should all the bright lecturers in Nigeria relocate abroad, what happens to our higher education institutions?
We are all aware of the implication of brain drain and the pivotal role of intellectualism in knowledge economy. Even President Muhammadu Buhari in 2020 approved some incentives for primary and secondary school teachers to prove this point. Why is government reluctant in implementing an agreement that has to do with the welfare of lecturers for this long? Honestly, what Nigeria pays its lecturers is an insult to the profession!
Olabisi Deji-Folutile (PhD) is the editor in chief of franktalknow.com and a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors. Email: bisideji@yahoo.co.uk
Categories: audio
Buhari Reconstitutes Board Of Federal Mortgage Bank
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday gave his approval for the reconstitution of the Board of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.
The approval, according to a statement issued by Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President, is with a view to repositioning the bank as a core banking institution with core competence in mortgage finance.
The President in January 2022, appointed Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi, a Chartered Accountant and a well-known financial expert as Chairman of the board.
In the new Board, Hamman Madu representing the North-East zone with a background of over 30 years in the mortgage industry is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer.
Other members are Umar Zubaida, Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Services representing the Northwest zone; Chukwuma Kingsley, Executive Director, Business Development & Portfolio Management (BD&PM) representing the Southsouth zone; Mustapha Lukman Olayiwola, Executive Director, Loans & Mortgage Services (L&MS) representing the Northcentral zone.
Others are; Asein Abimbola from the Southwest zone representing the Federal Ministry of works and Housing; Ejezie Sandra Nkechi, Southeast, representing the Public as well as two representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“The appointment of the Board takes effect from April 13, 2022 with the exception of the Chairman, Mr Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi whose appointment took effect from January 5, this year,” the statement noted.
Categories: audio
How Governor Fayemi Bribed Electoral Body, INEC Directors To Defer APC National, State Houses Of Assembly Primaries Till After Governorship Polls
Kayode Fayemi
The Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has been accused of mounting pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to shift the dates of the National Assembly and State Assemblies elections in Ekiti and Osun states.
INEC had told political parties to adhere strictly to the April 4 to June 3, 2022 timeline for the conduct of primary elections for the nomination of candidates for the 2023 general elections.
Kayode Fayemi
Reliable sources close to INEC told SaharaReporters that Fayemi was not comfortable having the All Progressives Congress conduct the primaries before the governorship election slated for June 18, 2022, in the state.
To this end, and leveraging on his position as the Chairman of Governors Forum, “he has initiated moves to influence some top directors and officials of the INEC with millions of naira to raise a memo against the conduct of Presidential, National and State Assemblies Primaries in Ekiti and Osun states,” a top source said.
Ekiti and Osun states governorship elections will be held on June 18 and July 16, 2022.
Another source added that the governor hinged his argument for the postponement of the 2023 primary elections in both Ekiti and Osun states on the ground that INEC would be able to monitor the governorship elections in both states in the South-West effectively.
The source added that the actual reason why Governor Fayemi was trying to force INEC to shift the timetable was far from being noble.
“It is simply self-seeking and driven by a sinister motive. The governor has induced INEC directors with millions of naira to raise all manners of memoranda to convince INEC Commissioners and the Chairman to shift the conduct of the 2023 primary elections because of the proposed governorship elections in both Osun and Ekiti states.
“He is claiming that the postponement of the election will enable INEC officials to participate in the governorship elections in both states, which is not tenable.
“INEC officials will not conduct the primaries for the political parties; their responsibility is just to monitor the election to determine whether parties comply with the Electoral Act or not and it will be concluded latest by June 3; so INEC still has two to three weeks before the Ekiti Governorship Election and seven weeks before the Osun election.”
Another source said, “The governor may have a sinister motive for mounting pressure on INEC Directors to raise a memo to that effect. He is definitely not happy that the Presidential, National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly primaries will hold before the June 18 governorship election in Ekiti because that will not give him any room to manipulate the primaries as planned, more so that he is nursing presidential ambition and he is trying to enforce support for that ambition on the part of every political office seeker in Ekiti.
"He wants to deceive everybody to work with him during the June 18 governorship elections and thereafter make support for his presidential ambition a condition for securing a ticket at the Presidential, National Assembly and House of Assembly primaries."
Some party stakeholders and legal practitioners in Ekiti and Osun states who are privy to this information are allegedly getting ready to sue INEC if it succumbs to the pressure from Governor Fayemi by postponing and isolating the APC national and state primary elections in contravention of the Electoral Act.
According to them, Governor Fayemi is just using flimsy excuses to try to derail the party primaries in order to perpetrate his sinister motive which may likely further destabilise the party in Ekiti State. They added that after the primary elections, there is enough time for INEC, parties and other critical stakeholders to prepare for the governorship election slated for June 18, 2022.
Categories: audio
BREAKING: National Assembly Passes Amended 2022 Budget, Approves N965billion Borrowing
Senate
An amendment to the 2022 Appropriation Act and 2022 Fiscal Framework, which raised the deficit in the Federal Government’s budget by N965.42billion to N7.35trillion, has been passed by the National Assembly.
The President had written to the National Assembly to call for amendments to the budget and the fiscal framework for 2022.
Senate
Buhari said the adjustments to the 2022 Fiscal Framework include an increase in the project oil price benchmark by $11 per barrel, from $62 per barrel to $73 per barrel; a reduction in the projected oil production volume by 283,000 barrels per day, from 1.883 million barrels per day to 1.600 million barrels per day; an increase in the estimated provision for PMS subsidy for 2022 by N442.72bn, from N3.557tn to N4tn.
Based on the request by the President Muhammadu Buhari, the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively, on Thursday considered and adopted reports on the amendment bills at the plenary, Punch reports.
The federal parliament approved a new oil price benchmark of $73 per barrel, a new oil production volume of 1.600 million per day, and a PMS subsidy of N4trillion.
Provision for federally-funded upstream projects being implemented was cut by N200bn from N352.80bn, while the projection for Federal Government independent revenue was raised by N400bn.
Also passed was an additional provision of N182.45bn to cater for the needs of the Nigeria Police Force as well as provision of N76.13bn for domestic debt service, with net reductions in statutory transfers by N66.07bn.
The statutory transfers’ adjustments were as follows: NDDC by N13.46bn, from N102.78bn to N89.32bn; NEDC by N6.30bn, from N48.08bn to N41.78bn; UBEC by N23.16bn, from N112.29bn to N89.13bn; Basic Health Care Fund by N11.58bn, from N56.14bn to N44.56bn; and NASENI by N11.58bn, from N56.14bn to N44.56bn.
Categories: audio
Father Forgive Them – Buhari Tells Nigerians To Remember Jesus’ Words In Easter Message
President Muhammadu Buhari has enjoined Nigerians not to give up in the face of troubling challenges besetting the nation.
In his 2022 Easter message to Nigerians, Buhari expressed optimism that Nigeria would soon overcome its uncertainty and insecurity problems.
He called on Nigerians to continue showing love to one another, eschew hate, and also be patriotic for the greater good of society.
“Easter evokes in us the resilience of the human spirit not to give up in the face of seemingly daunting challenges of life,” Buhari remarked.
“This period emboldens us to believe that the current spate of uncertainty and insecurity will soon unfold a season of the triumph of good over evil; hope over despair, and light over darkness.”
The president also urged Nigerians, in the spirit of the season, to demonstrate “love for one another, rather than hate – and show more patriotism, as this is the only country we have.”
“I enjoin us, therefore, to live out the eternal words of Jesus Christ on the cross where he said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.
“Let us remember that the scriptural emphasis of love has so much relevance for us today as a nation more than ever before.”
Describing this year’s celebration as very unique for Christendom in Nigeria and all around the globe, the President acknowledged the 40-day Lent period as an opportune moment ”where the faithful is expected to fast, pray, assist the poor, abhor injustice and strife, give alms, and penitently engage in self-examination and repentance of sins.
“Similar values apply to the Muslim faithful, currently about halfway into the holy month of Ramadan.
“For us – as a nation, the message of Easter, which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ after crucifixion and burial, reminds us of the power of divine love, faith and redemption.
“As we approach another season of electioneering, let the security and unity of the nation guide our actions and utterances. I wish all Nigerians a joyful and blessed Easter.”
Categories: audio
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